Efficacy of combination chemotherapy with capecitabine plus cisplatin in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma

Purpose The aim was to assess the efficacy and safety of capecitabine (X) plus cisplatin (P) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods We retrospectively analyzed the data of 178 assessable among 195 consecutive HCC patients ineligible for curative therapy who were treated with XP at the National Cancer Center Korea between January 2002 and July 2007. Results One patient (0.5%) had modified UICC stage II tumors, 12 (6.7%) had stage III, 51 (28.7%) had stage IVa, and 114 (64.1%) had stage IVb. The overall response rate was 19.7%, and 45.0% achieved tumor growth control. Tumor response and disease stability were significantly higher in patients with serum α-FP < 400 ng/mL, those with CLIP score